For more swine flu information

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has established a phone number for concerned Kansans to call with questions about the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus. The toll-free number is 1 (877) 427-7317. Operators will be available to answer questions from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Persons calling will be directed to press “1” on their touch-tone phone to be directed to an operator who can answer questions.
Kansans with questions about the virus can email H1N1fluinfo@kdheks.gov. Information is also available from KDHE online.

The number of confirmed swine flu cases continues to climb, both throughout Kansas and in Johnson and Wyandotte counties.

This morning, Kansas Department of Health and Environment officials said 12 cases of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, or swine flu, have been confirmed in the state.

Johnson County, at five cases, has the highest number of confirmed cases in the state. Wyandotte County has four confirmed cases.

The latest new cases involve a child in Wyandotte County and a child in Johnson County.

Officials also said the probable case involving a hospitalized patient in Johnson County announced last Friday now has been confirmed after a repeated test and consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Starting today, KDHE said it would report cases of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus once daily by 10 a.m. The daily report will include all cases identified by 11:59 p.m. of the previous day.

Here is a rundown of the confirmed swine flu cases in Kansas:

• Two Dickinson County adults residing in the same household. Neither of the patients was hospitalized. One of the patients had recently traveled to Mexico.

• Five cases in Johnson County: One involves an adult who had traveled to Mexico. The patient remains hospitalized. Another involves an adult Texas resident who is visiting Johnson County. The patient has not been hospitalized. The other three cases involve children, and no other details are being released at this time.

• Four cases in Wyandotte County. One case involves a child who was hospitalized at Children’s Mercy Hospital but has since been discharged and has fully recovered. Additional details about the three other cases — one adult and two children — are not available.

• One case in Sedgwick County involves a child who traveled out-of-state to an area of known transmission where he/she was presumably exposed to the virus.